A family of rogue house repairers who preyed on sick and elderly victims have been jailed.Monty Croke, 46, and his sons Monty junior, 26, and Billy, 23, took £250,000 from a man with Parkinsons.

Other victims brought the total to £400,000, and included a widow with dementia and a woman aged 93.

Teesside Crown Court Credit: PA Wire

Monty Croke senior from Pickering, North Yorkshire, was jailed for five years, and his sons Monty junior and Billy, based at a travellers site in Knaresborough, were jailed for two and a half years and 12 months.They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and converting criminal property.

At Teesside Crown Court Judge Tony Briggs said that they were devious, persuasive and ruthless in pursuit of money.

The judge praised North Yorkshire Trading Standards and neighbours who rescued the victims from the family.